Today the A squad rode the trifecta of climbs: Buckberg Mt., Dunderberg Mt., and Perkins Drive. Scott, Mark D., Chad, Steve and I donned our arm warmers and set out from the New City library at 9:00 A.M. to head north on 9W. We were joined by Dan, Jay and Eric who comprised a strong B group. We headed out to 9W via South Mountain Rd, went through the rock cut and dropped down the helix to the Haverstraw Marina. In Tomkin’s Cove the two groups split when the A group turned left onto Buckberg Mt. Road for the mile-long climb. After carefully dropping back down to 9W we barely had time to recover before we had to settle in for the grinding ascent of Dunderberg Mountain. Chad made a strong out-of-the-saddle push on the final riser before the summit despite the four-mile climb that awaited us on the other side.
After we turned onto 7 Lakes Drive we caught up with the B group at the traffic circle. Steve made a superhuman push up Perkins despite having put on “winter weight,” and we all regrouped at the top for some quick refreshments. Steve had his customary PB&J, Scott downed a handful of fun-size Snickers bars, and I ate two packages of Fig Newtons. Scott, Chad and I shared a can of Coke which gave our systems a much-needed jolt for the miles to come. Of all the A riders, in my opinion, Steve made the wisest food choice, though Scott swears that Snickers bars are the ultimate power snack and Mark is a believer in the efficacy of gels and gu. I think Fig Newtons are delicious.
The sweeping S-curves of Perkins Drive and 7 Lakes Drive made for a thrilling descent made all the more enjoyable by the lack of buffeting cross winds. We bottomed out on 9W, went up and over Dunderburg (where Mark, in a tight aero tuck, passed me like Wile-E-Coyote on Acme-brand rocket-propelled roller skates) and heaved up the two rollers that would tire our legs for the grueling 26% grades of Buckberg . We regrouped at the top of Buckberg and caught our breath for the final push back to New City.
Our passage through Mogadishu-on-the-Hudson (Haverstraw or, as Chad calls it, “The Gauntlet”) was relatively uneventful: we only almost got annihilated twice-first by an elderly woman and later by a charter bus. Scott led us out of the free-fire zone with some powerful surges past the rock cut and up to 304. On 304 heading to the library, Chad and I held on to Scott’s wheel for dear life as we finished the ride strong and “left it all on the road.”
Thanks to all the RBCers who participated in today’s Multi-Level Ride.
-Ian
